Apparatus for the liquid treatment of fibrous material



Dec. 18, 1945. v a KNIGHT 2,391,096

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Nov. 12, 1941 YINVENIOR.

EDWHFD KNIGHT 6% FITTU. EY

Patented 18, E245 APPARATUS. FOR'THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF EFIBROUS MATERIAL Edward Knight, Nitro, w. va, assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application November 12, 1941, Serial No. 418,758

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in processes and apparatus for the liquid treatment of textile fibers. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in processes and apparatus for subjecting staple fiber to successive liquid Liquid treatment of textile fibers is a common practice, both with natural and synthetic materials. 'The more rigid requirements of the synthetic fibers, such as viscose rayon staple fiber,

present a number of diificulties when endeavor-' ing to use the liquid processes and apparatus therefor which are known to the art at present. 1

For example, it is usual practice in the process of manufacture of viscosestaple fiber to accomplish the fibrous material and that the residuum from one treatment be completely removed before the succeeding treatment begins; otherwise the one will interfere with the action of the other. However, it is not desirable to subject rayon staple fiber to violent agitation as commonly used with certain other types of fibers to insure thorough liquid treatment and complete dispersal and removal of extraneous soluble material. Fibers of diameters and lengths representative of rayon staple fiber will, as a result of such agitation, form neps.- Neps by definition are tangles in fibrous material which cannot be untangled without damage to the filaments. The fibers will also mat or felt together and be less pervious to the treating liquids. I

There are in use a number of various types of machines for liquid treatment of staple fiber comprising conveyors of perforate trays, woven wire belts, reciprocating rails, etc. these types leave something to be desired with regard to the rapidity and uniformity with which the liquids penetrate a mass of staple corresponding to a reasonable rate of production. In manycases the machines operate in such a manner as to permit considerable, mixture of the treating liquids, and the ability to give eflective wet treat-.

However, all of 45 This invention has for its principal object to provide improvements in processes and apparatus for the liquid treatment of textile fibers in successive stages.

, A further-object of the invention is to provide 5 improvements in processes and apparatus for the continuous treatment of textile fibers with various treating liquids in successive stages comprising means for cutting the fibrous material into locks and arranging them in a substantially non-felted mass, continuously conveying this mass from one treating point to another with substantially no mechanical disturbance or-agitation until the successive treatments are completed; rapidly and uniformlybringin'g treating liquids into intimate contact with the fibrous material, with substantially no mechanical -disturbance of the latter; 'preventing one treating liquidfrom mixing with another; reducing to a minimum the residual liquid held by the fibrous material after each successive treatment; and recovering and recycling the excess treating liquid.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent "from the following description and accompanying drawing. .In the drawing Figure 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.- Figure 2 is an elevational view, partially in section, on the line 22 in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, reference character I indicates generally a continuous linked conveyor member for transporting staple fibrous material v from one liquid treating station to another, which conveyor passes'over sprocket wheels and is driven by suitable means which are not shown. The conveyor member is made up of perforated plate sections 2 pivotally connected together, 40 having -overlapping vertical side portions 4 and capable of being flexed in both directions from its normal plane. The conveyor member is pro-.

vided with roller members 3 which are arranged to travel on the track generally indicated by reference character 5 which comprises a pair of rails having a "plurality of substantially horizontal portions. 9 and Ill positioned between inclines or rises 6, 'l and -8. Liquid treating stations comprising the spray heads l3 and H are positioned above the horizontal portions of the tracks. The spray heads are supplied with treating liquid from the reservoirs l5 and I6. Suction boxes II and I2 are positioned beneath the spray heads l3 and It with their upper extremities in Bi contact with the under side of the conveyor lates. Means may be provided to form a sub- 1 'stantially airtight seal between the suction boxes .ployed.

and the conveyor plates, Each of the suction boxes is provided-with means not shown for maintaining a partial vacuum in the box and means such as H for discharging the liquid and-"gas that is drawn into the box. The liquidthatds discharged may be recirculated to the reservoirs.

' While onlytwo liquid treatment stations are. shown, this is by way of illustration and it is number desired may be em-' intended that any In carrying out theinvention, for example in form a more or less compact mass substantially without felting the fibers together. As theconveyor passes beneath the sprayer heads, the staple fiber is subjected to various treating liquids in successive stages, such as washing, bleaching, desulfurizing, finishing, etc. The liquids are drawn through the mass of staple fibers by the suction boxes and may then be recirculated to the reservoirs. The staple fiber is subjected to liquid treatment while the conveyor is in the horizontal portion of the tracks. Due to the rise in the tracks, the portions of the conveyor before and after the horizontal portion where the staple fiber' is being treated with liquid are inclined. The inclined portions of the conveyor prevent the liquid 'from flowing along the conveyor and mixing with liquid at the other treating stations and confines it to an area substantially over the suction boxes.

By means of this invention, large quantities of staple fiber may be continuously treated with various treating liquids iii-successive stages, and the respectlveliquids may be recovered for recirculation without being contaminated by liquid from'a preceding or following stage.

If desired the suction boxes may be so spaced with reference to the spray heads as to remove the excess liquid mechanically held by the mass of staple before it leaves each stage.

material.

material comprising perforate conveyor means. a track on which the conveyor is supported adjacent its sides for movement along the track, means for applying liquid to fibrous material on the conveyor means, means for elevating a portion of the conveyor means adjacent each side of the region where the liquid is applied to confine the liquid applied and prevent its'fiowing along the conveyor means comprising rises in the track, and means positioned beneath the conveyor for withdrawing liquid'from the fibrous material. a

2. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of fibrous material comprising perforate conveyor means, a track on which the conveyor is supported ad jacent its sides for movement along the track, a plurality of spaced apart means for applying liquid to fibrous material on the conveyor means in regions spaced apart along the conveyor means, means for elevating a portion of the conveyor means adjacent each side of the regions where the liquid is applied to confine the liquid applied and prevent its fiowing- .along the conveyor. means comprising rise in the track and means positioned beneath the conveyor for withdrawing liquid from the fibrous material.

3. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of fibrous material comprising a conveyor means having pivotally connected perforated plate sections for continuously transporting fibrous material and supported for movement on a track, means for applying liquid to fibrous material on the conveyor; means, means for elevating a portion of the conveyor adjacent each side of the region where the liquid is applied'to confine the liquid applied and prevent its flowing along the conveyor means comprising rises in the track, means for drawing liquid through the fibrous material comprising suction boxes positioned beneath the conveyor means between the rises in the track and incontact with the plate sections.

4'. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of fibrous material comprising perforate conveyor means, a track on which the conveyor is supported for movement along the track, means for applying .liquid to fibrous material on the conveyor means,

means for elevating a, portion of the conveyor means adiacent each side of the region where the liquid is applied to' confine the liquid applied and to prevent its flowing along the conveyor means, said elevating means comprising rises in the track, and means positioned beneath the conveyor for withdrawing liquid from the fibrous EDWARD KNIGHT. 

